WASHINGTON — House Republicans engaged in a heated debate on Thursday in voting down a discrimination amendment to the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act while allowing a similar bill providing protections for religious entities to remain intact.

The Act, which is renewed afresh each year, outlines the allotted spending for the U.S. military for the coming year. Lawmakers commonly propose amendments to attach to the bill, most of which apply to defense issues or other related matters.

This year, among the amendments presented, Rep. Steve Russell, R-OK, submitted a proposal to apply the religious exemption in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to federal contractors.

“Any branch or agency of the federal government shall, with respect to any religious corporation, religious association, religious educational institution, or religious society that is a recipient of or offerer for a federal government contract, subcontract, grant, purchase order, or cooperative agreement, provide protections and exemptions consistent with sections 702(a) and 703(e)(2) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” it reads.

Russell said that his amendment was meant to help clarify “ambiguous language” surrounding Barack Obama’s order concerning federal contractors and discrimination law.

“Unfortunately, guidance from the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, however well-intended, has caused confusion on the president’s executive order regarding religious contractors within the scope of their protections under law,” he said.

Legal groups such as First Liberty expressed support for the measure, stating that the amendment “creates an equal playing field for military religious vendors, ensuring military chaplains remain free to choose vendors who align with the teachings of their denomination.”

“Title VII’s tried-and-true religious exemption exists precisely so that religious organizations may continue to provide vital support to the government while staying true to their religious identities. Moreover, Title VII’s religious exemptions are narrowly tailored such that they only apply to a religious organization’s employment decisions,” opined attorney Mike Berry. “Beyond that, religious support contractors will continue to be subject to all applicable federal regulations.”

But Democrats denounced the Russell amendment, construing it to mean that it would permit discrimination against homosexuals.

“You can basically be a private contractor and this just gives you the right to discriminate if you decide you just don’t want to do business with gay people or with anybody else for that matter on a discriminatory basis within a protected class,” opined Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash.

Therefore, Rep. Sean Maloney, D-NY, who is openly homosexual and the co-chair of the House “LGBT Equality Caucus,” proposed another amendment that would ban entities from receiving government contracts if they are believed to have policies in place deemed discriminatory of homosexuals. He called the Russell amendment “hate-based language.”

At first it seemed that the amendment might pass, with 217 votes in favor of the measure, but according to reports, House Republicans extended the voting time by several minutes and encouraged their colleagues to change their minds.

Reps. Darrell Issa, David Valadao, Jeff Denham, Mimi Walters—all of California—and Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon, Rep. David Yong of Iowa and Rep. Bruce Poliquin of Maine all changed their vote at the last minute, which ended in the defeat of Maloney’s measure—by a single vote.

“The leader went around and twisted their arms, and they voted for discrimination,” he said on the House floor. “The members who switched are going to hold a very special place in American history as the people who didn’t have the guts to stand up and support the will of the House.”

But Speaker Paul Ryan’s office said that Maloney’s amendment could have placed the entire Defense Act at risk as Republicans would not then have voted for it with the text included.

“Our veterans and troops were prioritized over a political messaging amendment that could have jeopardized the final passage of the appropriations bill,” spokesperson AshLee Strong said in a statement.

A special message from the publisher...

Dear Reader, our hearts are deeply grieved by the ongoing devastation in Iraq, and through this we have been compelled to take a stand at the gates of hell against the enemy who came to kill and destroy. Bibles for Iraq is a project to put Arabic and Kurdish audio Bibles into the hands of Iraqi and Syrian refugees—many of whom are illiterate and who have never heard the gospel.Will you stand with us and make a donation today to this important effort? Please click here to send a Bible to a refugee >>

Commenting Guidelines: We welcome readers to comment on stories, but we will not tolerate remarks containing profanity, vulgarity, violence, blasphemy, all caps or any discourteous behavior. Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining a respectful public environment where readers can engage in reasonable discussion about matters affecting our nation and our world.Read More →

mzungu

Let’s side with Oklahoma push for the impeachment of Obama. He is mentally unstable.

Theodore Fenton

Fundamentalist Christians have redefined “religious liberty.”

Amos Moses

There is not even a real definition of “Fundamentalist” in the context of christianity …….. so i am not even sure what you are talking about ……….

Charles

I suppose the flip side would be a “Lukewarm” Christian… Which of course God spits out.

Theodore Fenton

So?

Semp

Poor thing, what are your hobbies other than bashing Christians?
Homosexuals lead such empty lives.

Theodore Fenton

Judging from this article, it seems that it’s homosexuals who are being bashed.

Semp

Nothing wrong with calling the immoral what they are. That is the mark of civilization, to oppose bad behavior and promote good behavior. Decent people don’t spread fatal STDs and sexually exploit children.

Grace Kim Kwon

The Holy Bible condemns both homosexuality and transgenderism as sins. Today’s secular Western culture must never push its depraved immorality upon the people or other nations. Every culture needs corrections by the Holy Bible to live right.

gogo0

and women speaking, and mixed fabric clothes, and divorcees breathing air, et all. sadly it appears hipocracy is not banned in leviticus, though if it were i bet christians would turn it into an allegory so they could continue practicing it

Grace Kim Kwon

You need to learn how to interpret the writings. It’s a fact that woman has no spiritual authority over man. It’s been observed and proven that female ordination feminizes men to a sickening point. Banning of mixed fabric clothes is applied to single-heartedness to the Lord for those who do not live in Canaan. Sexual offenders don’t get executed anymore but rather given time for repentance; therefore divorcing a criminal is permitted. The Western culture needs the Holy Bible as every culture needs a Biblical correction to become civilized, or women and children will get victimized as seen on today.

Becky

“‘Shame! Shame!’ Democratic lawmakers called out.”

It’s you lot that ought to feel shame…you’re advocates of homosexuality!

Get Breaking Christian News in Your Inbox!

Sign Me Up! Top Daily Top Weekly

Christian News Headlines

Keep your site fresh and your visitors coming back by featuring Christian News Network's top news stories on your site. Learn more →

Connect With Us:

Learn More

About Christian News Network

Christian News Network provides up-to-date news and information affecting the body of Christ worldwide from an uncompromising Biblical worldview. Our objective is to present the news with the word of God as our lens, and to bring to light what is hid in the darkness. Learn more →